Two Tattooed Prisoners and a Master Swordsman Join the Cast of "Golden Kamuy" TV Anime

Two Tattooed Prisoners and a Master Swordsman Join the Cast of “Golden Kamuy” TV Anime

Three more cast members have been revealed for Golden Kamuy, an upcoming TV anime based on the seinen adventure manga by Satoru Noda about groups of soldiers, escaped prisoners, and other misfits all scrambling to find a huge hidden cache of Ainu gold in early 20th century Hokkaido. The new cast members include:

Jôji Nakata as Toshizou Nijikata, the “demon vice-commander” of the Shinsengumi. Although Nijikata was supposed to have died at the Battle of Hakodate in Meiji Year 2 (1869 CE), he was instead imprisoned for 30 years at Abashiri Prison, where he became one of the 24 tattooed prisoners. After successfully leading the prison break, Nijikata plans to claim the stolen gold to continue his war against the current government.

Kenji Nomura as Tatsuuma Ushiyama, one of the 24 tattooed prisoners and a judo master of unmatched skill. Although Ushiyama won every judo match he engaged in for a 10 year period, earning him the nickname “Invincible Ushiyama”, his libido is also unmatched, and he was imprisoned in Abashiri Prison for sleeping with his master’s wife. After the jailbreak, Ushiyama joins up with Nishikata’s group.

Takayuki Sugō was also announced as the voice of Shinpachi Nagakura (not pictured), the greatest swordsman of the Shinsengumi. After the Battle of Hakodate, Shinpachi lived quietly as an fencing instructor until reuniting with Nijikata, whom he supports in the quest for the stolen gold.

The original Golden Kamuy manga is published by Shueisha in their Weekly Young Jump seinen manga magazine, and an English language version is also available from Viz Media, who describe the story as follows:

In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi “Immortal” Sugimoto scratches out a meager existence during the postwar gold rush in the wilderness of Hokkaido. When he stumbles across a map to a fortune in hidden Ainu gold, he sets off on a treacherous quest to find it. But Sugimoto is not the only interested party, and everyone who knows about the gold will kill to possess it! Faced with the harsh conditions of the northern wilderness, ruthless criminals and rogue Japanese soldiers, Sugimoto will need all his skills and luck—and the help of an Ainu girl named Asirpa—to survive.

The Golden Kamuy TV anime is directed by Hitoshi Nanba and features animation by Geno Studio. It will begin broadcasting in April of 2018 on Tokyo MX, Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, Sapporo Television Broadcasting, BS11, and the Jidaigeki Specialty Channel. Golden Kamuy will also be digitally distributed on the Fuji On Demand streaming service.